European Football Championship: Germany wins opening match against Scotland 5:1

As Julian Nagelsmann proudly celebrated the first lavish European Championship party with his early starters in the center circle of the Munich Arena, the new German football hit “Völlig losgelöst” was playing. Euphoric, the young stars Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Co. then went on the first lap of honor of the tournament.

The big summer party is underway – and how. With the finest magic football, Wirtz and Musiala gave the German national team the dream start to the European Championships they had been longing for with a 5:1 (3:0) win against Scotland. After the perfect opening evening with the frenetically celebrated biggest German European Championship victory, a new summer fairytale is no longer just a vague dream. The fans in the sold-out Munich Arena celebrated their first party in black, red and gold.

The outstanding young stars Wirtz (10th minute) and Musiala (19th minute) as well as Kai Havertz from a penalty (45th+1), top joker Niclas Füllkrug (68th minute) and Emre Can (90th+3) scored the goals in front of 66,000 spectators. Scotland’s Ryan Porteous was shown the red card after a nasty kick against Ilkay Gündogan, which led to a penalty shortly before half-time. The Scottish goal from an own goal by Antonio Rüdiger was just a blemish (87th minute).

“We set the course in the first 20 minutes and the team did really, really well,” praised national coach Nagelsmann on ZDF, speaking of a “very good first step.” Nevertheless, Nagelsmann warned: “It’s no use stopping operations now. We just have to carry on. It was a first step that we needed.” There was pressure on the boiler, said Nagelsmann, who recalled the last tournaments: “I think everyone knows what the last opening games were like.”

“That gives you self-confidence”

Toni Kroos can also remember that, and the opening victory was accordingly valuable. “That gives a team confidence in the first game of a home European Championship,” said the title collector on MagentaTV, and Füllkrug summed it up: “It’s an outstanding start to what we want: a summer fairytale.”

With quick combinations and the long-missed goal punch, the DFB team managed to send the important victory signal in the first game after three tournament defeats at the start – just like at the 2006 World Cup at home. Energetically driven and tactically perfectly prepared by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, captain Gündogan and his colleagues showed that they can withstand the great pressure from the hosts. “The atmosphere, the euphoria, that’s what we need to get far. That’s what we wanted. We can’t take a step less in the next games,” said Gündogan.

Round of 16 already close

On Wednesday in Stuttgart, another win in the second tournament match against Hungary could even put them in the round of 16 – although the opponents are likely to put up much stronger resistance than the Scots, who are shocked by the power of German football.

Before the ball rolled, the almost 15-minute opening ceremony became emotional at the end. Franz Beckenbauer’s widow Heidi brought the silver Henri Delaunay trophy onto the pitch. She was flanked by European Championship icons Bernard Dietz and Jürgen Klinsmann, the captains of the winning teams of 1980 and 1996. Before Heidi Beckenbauer left the pitch again, she blew a kiss towards the sky. Germany’s football legend died on January 7th of this year at the age of 78.

Germany scores early against Scotland

And the opening match in the atmospheric Munich Arena, which included Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, was probably just what the Kaiser wanted. The German team immediately took control. Not even a minute had been played when Wirtz tested the Scottish goalkeeper Angus Gunn for the first time in a position that was suspected of being offside. Fast, short passing, early pressing, high ball possession – the DFB team was immediately up to speed.

And the hoped-for early goal was achieved. Just like in 2006, when Philipp Lahm kicked off the summer fairytale after just six minutes against Costa Rica. This time it happened after ten minutes. Wirtz got a shot via Toni Kroos, the brilliant midfielder, and Joshua Kimmich, while Gunn only got his fingertips on the ball. National coach Nagelsmann, who had admitted to being a little nervous before the game, celebrated the goal with a run of joy. “They’re hot, they’re up for it, they’re hungry,” the youngest German tournament coach had announced – and he was right.

Scots silent at European Championship kick-off

The high-speed German football silenced the loud Scottish supporters a little. 10,000 fans of the Tartan Army were in the stadium, more than 100,000 Scots in the city. And they were completely satisfied when the second magician in the German team scored. After a fine pass from Havertz, Musiala put the ball in the net, preceded by a dream pass from Gündogan.

The entire German bench jumped up and applauded, which also demonstrated the team spirit. And after just 21 minutes, the crowd rang out: “Oh, how beautiful!” Feelings of happiness that the German fans, who had been battered by three disgraceful tournaments, had to wait a long time for. Halfway through the first half, the third German goal even seemed within reach when the French referee Clément Turpin pointed to the penalty spot. However, the foul on Musiala was outside the penalty area, so the video referee intervened.

Foul on Gündogan brings red

But the penalty was awarded after all – albeit late. Shortly before half-time, when Gündogan was about to take a follow-up shot, he was roughly brought down by Porteous. A scene that initially made the German captain fear the worst. As a result, the Scot was sent off after a quick video review, and Havertz did not miss the chance. What a gala performance by Nagelsmann’s eleven at the start of the European Championships. For the first time, the DFB team scored three goals in the first half of a European Championship. The many setbacks and defeats from the past were forgotten in an instant.

With a numerical advantage, the German team had nothing to fear from the already harmless Scots. Rüdiger (51st), Wirtz (58th), who is now the youngest German goalscorer at the European Championships, and Maximilian Mittelstädt (65th) had further good opportunities. This could not last long for the Bravehearts – and it didn’t. Joker Füllkrug, who came on for Wirtz, slammed the ball into the top corner of the goal. Then veteran and fan favorite Thomas Müller had a go in front of his home crowd. Despite a good header chance (80th), the Munich player still had to wait for his first European Championship goal. This did not spoil the exuberant party atmosphere – not even the unfortunate own goal by defense chief Rüdiger. Can, who had just been nominated, even put the finishing touches to the game.

Note: This article has been updated several times.